RateItAll: The Opinion Network

There's a subtle difference between fascism and totalitarianism, though in practical terms the danger in each is the same, and the ideologies often overlap. Fascists tend only to half-believe in what they are saying, making policy in openly theatrical ways for the sheer purpose of manipulating the people. Hence the close link between fascism and farce; Karl Marx's diagnosis of Napoleon III as a half-witted impersonation of his uncle might just as well apply to other wannabe fascist dynasties like Bush I and Bush II. Fascists launch phony wars, like Mussolini in Ethiopia, for propaganda purposes, while totalitarians make war upon their own people, developing an uber-statist ideology that rarely depends upon the cult of personality. Fascists like Hitler manipulate the applause of crowds, while, as Slavoj Zizek points out, totalitarians like Stalin applaud with the people in praise of the higher Thing that they supposedly represent. Fascists are generally far more capable of laughter, which makes them more threatening than the totalitarians, most of whom actually believe what they are saying. The U.S. is too diverse to sustain a totalitarian police state, the Patriot Act notwithstanding; more dangerous is the threat of fascism, under which a charismatic leader might master the ability to control the hearts of an ignorant people. Arguably, the haze of unreality that set in under Reagan was the first step toward American fascism, though there are probably even earlier examples in this country.

Hitler is the most infamous of the fascist dictators, but Mussolini, Franco and Pinochet also seem to be role models for many of today's leaders.

Saddam's Iraq was a traditional fascist regime (supported by the USA until Hussein got a bit too big for his britches and stopped respecting his masters).

With Mao out of the picture, China has become a typical fascist regime - albeit with a twist - as Chinese dictators still give lip service to Marxist Leninism.

Russia is now a fascist kleptocracy.

Watch out for the Islamists. Their brand of fascism is becoming more and more popular around the world.

How soon will the fascist takeover of the USA be completed?

http://www.oldamericancentury.org/14pts.htm

http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/2007/09/20/the-police-state-is-right-here-right-now-by-carolyn-baker/

Two words: Mussolini. Hitler. I won't even expound on the countries that are flirting with this now.